dinsdag 30 augustus 2016

As the season is coming to a close, we come nearer to the final Vin Scully sound bite. Which is a sad affair. This guy has been with the organization for so long, most of us can’t imagine a Dodgers game without him at the mike. His play-by-play and the stories he has to tell… soon forever gone.
Now, what can I write what hasn’t already been written about Vin Scully? I honestly don’t know. I read ‘the Vin Scully Story’ by Curt Smith. As you can read in my review I wasn’t very happy with that book. So, maybe Vin has the time wo write his autobiography?
But I don’t think Scully is the kinda guy who thinks his story is so important, he’s a truly humble person.
Soon we’re left with the memories of Vin’s velvet voice announcing it’s time for Dodger Baseball and like a father invites us to join his game. Because that’s what he does: listen to the Dodgers play with Vin at the mike is listening to a game Vin makes.
Memories, luckily, are plentiful and put on vinyl, cd, dvd, you name it, Vin’s voice has graced every sound recording media. A great example is the record album ‘Dodgers ‘59’ on which Scully takes us back to Roy Campanella Night, the play-by-play of Koufax’fanning 18 batters and much more. If you can get you hands on it: get it!
I’m very excited to be able to attend the Vin Scully Appreciation Night. Will the Dodgers organization retire ‘his’ number? The number 67! For decades Scully worked for and with the Dodgers? The Brewers retired number 50 when Bob Uecker was with the Brewers organization for 50 years. I say: ‘Dodgers retire number 67!’

donderdag 2 juni 2016

I’ve been reading books about our Boys in Blue for some years now. I’ve made it up and down the timeline but most books are about the teams and players of the 1950’s. I was pleasantly surprised to discover two brand new books about the team. The first one came out in May. The Last Innocents has the tagline ‘The collision of the turbulent sixties and the Los Angeles Dodgers’ and is written by Michael Leahy, best known for his book ‘When nothing else matters’ about Michael Jordan’s comeback. Reading parts of the abstract I get very excited. Sounds like a great read:

“Bringing into focus the high drama of the World Series appearances from 1962 to 1972 and their pivotal games, Michael Leahy explores these men’s interpersonal relationships and illuminates the triumphs, agonies, and challenges each faced individually.
Leahy places these men’s lives within the political and social maelstrom that was the era when the conformity of the 1950s gave way to demands for equality and rights.”

The other book will be published this month. Dodgerland: decadent Los Angeles and the 1977-1978 Dodgers by Michael Fallon.

“Part journalism, part social history, and part straight sportswriting, Dodgerland is told through the lives of four Toms, each representing different aspects of this L.A. story: Tom Lasorda, Tom Fallom, Tom Wolfe and Tom Bradley”

People from L.A. might be interested in the ‘Dodgerland event’ at the Allendale Branch Library in Pasadena on Saturday, July 23rd @2:00pm. The author will be present to discuss his book as well as sign copies.

Looks like I’ve got a fantastic summer of reading ahead of me. I will review the books as soon as possible.